Bač pri Materiji

About

Bač pri Materiji (pronounced [ˈbatʃ pɾi matɛˈɾiːji]) is a small settlement in the Municipality of Hrpelje-Kozina in the Littoral region of Slovenia. The settlement includes the hamlet of Gabrk half a kilometer southeast of the village core. It is located in heavily karstified terrain with many sinkholes and caves.

Name: The name Bač pri Materiji literally means 'Bač near Materija'. The name Bač is related to the Slovene common noun beč '(stone- or wood-lined) hollow with a spring' (< *bъťъ), referring to a local geographical feature. The Slavic word *bъťъ was borrowed from Latin buttis 'barrel' and is also the origin of the Slovene toponyms Beč and Buč.

History: A Roman road ran past the settlement of Bač pri Materiji. A stone built into a wall along the road is believed to be a Roman milestone. The ruins of Tabor Castle, of which only part of the tower are preserved, stand next to the road through the settlement. A communal village cistern was built in 1897. Running water was installed in 1935, with a water main from Buzet. Štefak Cave (Slovene: Štefakova pečina) was used by locals as a shelter from Italian fascist troops. During the Second World War, Partisan troops from...